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August 25, 2026

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Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani (C) watches as US special envoy for Syria Tom Barrack prepares to sign an agreement in Damascus on September 16, 2025. Shaibani announced on September 16 a plan backed by Jordan and the United States to restore calm to Druze-majority Sweida province, which witnessed deadly violence in July. (Photo by LOUAI BESHARA / AFP) (Photo by LOUAI BESHARA/AFP via Getty Images)

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Israel recalibrates Syria policy, explores path to security deal

Israel is rethinking its hard-line Syria policy and seeking to repair ties with US envoy and Donald Trump's confidant Tom Barrack amid a push for a security agreement with Damascus.

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

Palestinian militant group Hamas police officers stand guard as people attend the opening of the Fatah party's eighth general conference at Al-Azhar University in Gaza City on May 14, 2026.

Ex-defense minister: Israel in ‘worst possible’ Gaza situation as Hamas gains strength

Former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant criticized the Israeli government for allowing Hamas to retain control over half of the Gaza Strip.

A merchant ship "Jabotinsky" (former "Altalena"), chartered by Jewish military group Irgun Zvaei Leumi to carry weapons for Israeli fighters, burns near Tel Aviv beach, after being shelled by the Haganah, Israel, June 27, 1948.

Wreck of ship sunk by Israeli military in Irgun clash found after 78 years

The wreck of the Irgun underground's Altalena ship, bombed by the Israeli military in 1948 and deliberately sunk in 1949, was located off Israel's coast at a depth of 1,650 feet.

Latest News

Israel tightens election safeguards as public distrust surges: What to know

ilia YEFIMOVICH / AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Why Turkey sees Israeli strikes in Syria as warning over its military role, Mecca Pact

A Turkish soldier from the 1st Border Regiment Command looks out over the border wall to Syria during alert drills at a military outpost on the Turkey/Syria border on March 2, 2017 in Kilis, Turkey.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Analysis

Turkey bets on US deconfliction as Israel widens Syria red lines

Turkey/Syria border

Ezgi Akin

Rina Bassist

By Ezgi Akin , Rina Bassist

Analysis

Israel fears Turkey’s Syria ambitions and doubts Trump will stop them

ANKARA, TURKEY - JULY 7: U.S. President Donald Trump (L)shakes hands with with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) during a formal arrival at the Bestepe Presidential Palace during the NATO summit on July 7, 2026 in Ankara, Turkey. Leaders from NATO's 32 countries, plus NATO allies like Ukraine, gathered in the Turkish capital to discuss a range of issues involving spending targets, defense industrial production, and support for Ukraine, among other topics. (Photo by Emrah Gurel - Pool/Getty Images)

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

Samuel Wendel

Senior Analyst, Middle East Business & Tech

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Adam Lucente

News and Business Correspondent

In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change

Jack Dutton

Chief Business Correspondent

In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech

Ben Caspit

Israel Columnist

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

Francesco Schiavi

In Bologna, reporting on security, defense, economy, governance

Rina Bassist

Associate Editor (Israel)

In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs

ALEX KOLOMOISKY/AFP via Getty Images

Anti-Netanyahu bloc gets second chance

The vote over the Knesset’s Arrangement Committee has offered the so-called Bloc for Change a second shot at assembling the next government.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a ceremony honoring Israel's fallen soldiers at the Mount Herzel military cemetery during Yom HaZikaron (Remembrance Day), Jerusalem, April 14, 2021.

Desperate Netanyahu could fail to compose government

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of April 2021 is a wounded animal, whose attention is focused on one goal only: saving himself.

Marine life at a coral reef in the Red Sea waters off the coast of the southern port city of Eilat, Israel, Feb. 10, 2021.

Israel protects two rare fish species in Mediterranean

Environmental Protection Minister Gila Gamliel published a law amendment to protect the Goldblotch grouper fish and the dusky groupers, but marine life lovers say the measures are not enough to ensure the recovery of these species.

Foreign Affairs Minister of Bahrain Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu, US President Donald Trump, and Foreign Affairs Minister of the United Arab Emirates Abdullah bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan participate in the signing ceremony of the Abraham Accords on the South Lawn of the White House on September 15, 2020, in Washington, DC. Prime Minister Netanyahu signed a peace deal with the UAE and a declaration of intent to make peace with Bahrain.

Could Abraham accords work in favor of Israeli left?

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu intended for the Abraham Accords to serve him politically, but Israeli left may have also gotten a boost.

checkpoint near Bethleham

Palestinians attend prayers at Al-Aqsa mosque amid Israeli virus restrictions

Israeli officials controlling access to the mosque had limited the number of Palestinians able to worship on Friday, citing coronavirus concerns.

Foreign ministers on the Cyprus coast

Israel, Greece, Cyprus, Emirates hold strategic meeting

Top foreign affairs officials of Israel, Greece, Cyprus and the United Arab Emirates meet in Cyprus.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C-L), armed forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gadi Eizenkot (L) and air force commander Maj. Gen. Amikam Norkin (2nd-R) attend a graduation ceremony at Hatzerim Israeli Air Force base in the Negev desert, near Beer Sheva, Israel, Dec. 26, 2018.

Israel stands alone on Iran

It is now clear that Israel has been left on its own as the Americans strive for a diplomatic resolution of the conflict with Iran.

AFP via Getty Images

US ready to facilitate Lebanon-Israel maritime border talks

Undersecretary for Political Affairs David Hale said the United States is willing to mediate resumed talks between the hostile neighbors.

Rabbi Levi Duchman leads more than 200 local Jewish residents and tourists in celebrating Passover at the Address Hotel Marina, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, March 27, 2021.

Israel celebrates Independence Day with taste of peace

Israelis experience peace with Emiratis, Bahrainis and Moroccans, the way they never experienced it with their Egyptian or Jordanian neighbors.

Israeli Arab politician, leader of the United Arab List Mansour Abbas (R) attends consultations with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin (L) on who might form the next coalition government, at the president's residence in Jerusalem, on April 5, 2021.

Survey: Increasing number of Israelis would support Arab party joining government

The survey by the Israeli human rights group also concluded that most Israelis and Palestinians believe the International Criminal Court's probe into alleged Israeli crimes will not affect policy.

Women of the Wall

New Israeli legislator smuggles Torah scroll for Women of the Wall

One of the first actions of new Labor Knesset member Rabbi Gilad Kari was sneaking a Torah scroll into the Western Wall plaza for women activists to pray from.

EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP via Getty Images

New ultra-Orthodox residents make Israel's Dimona nervous

Many secular residents of the southern town of Dimona are afraid that new residents, families from the Gur Hasidic community, will change the character of their town.